2231

FINE JOHN MANTON FLINTLOCK SINGLE FOWLER WITH

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:1,750.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 5,500.00 USD
FINE JOHN MANTON FLINTLOCK SINGLE FOWLER WITH
CASE. EX. W. KEITH NEAL COLLECTION. Cal. 13 bore .700 bore dia. S# 6432 (1817). The 32" skelp twist barrel with under rib has very dramatic pattern and transitions from octagonal at rear through sixteen sides through a wedding band to round. Top flat is deeply engraved "Dover Street London". Deeply inset patent breech with platinum touch hole and band at rear, has platinum poincon marked "MANTON" "& SON" "LONDON" under a crown on top. Breech iron is engraved with semi relief scroll and some arms. Lock with flat plate having square tail is fitted with high breasted serpentine cock, waterproof "V" shaped pan with platinum at bottom, bridled frizzen engraved "Jno. Manton & Son Patent" and large roller feather spring having bulbous finial with teat. Lock is engraved with feather borders and some scroll. Maker's name and "PATENT" curl around cock pivot. Trigger plate has pineapple finial. Trigger guard with arms on bow has S# on tang. Steel buttplate has long top tang engraved with a pointing pointer. Stock of well figured and marbled European walnut has square checkering at grip and an octagonal crest plate at top of grip. Nose cap is horn and stock attaches to barrel with two captive sidebolts through oval silver escutcheons. A greenheart ramrod with brass tip and tail (worm under tail) mounts through two plain pipes and filed steel thimble. MEASUREMENTS: STOCK: DAH: 2". DAC: 1 7/16". CAST: neutral. LOP: 13 7/8". WEIGHT: 6 lb. 0 oz. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: gun is housed in what appears to be its original mahogany case with pendular dual hook and key closure (bone teardrop shaped key escutcheon), having circular "D" ring handle in top. Case is lined in green cloth and has John Manton label in lid of the type used between 1815-20. Bottom compartment with lock platform fits gun exceptionally well and contains a copper and brass powder flask with chamfered body, "Sykes patent" marked shot snake, early tin oil bottle, dusting brush, wad punch, powder and shot container and leather wallet containing flints and installation tool with pricker. Lock platform has turned bone knob affixed with an original W. Keith Neal Collection tag number "C194". Under platform are more flints, spare lock screw and tag from Christie's 25 October 2001 W. Keith Neal Collection Lot #106. A slip of paper is inscribed "This gun originally belonged to Sir Frederick Adair. Flixton Hall Suffolk". CONDITION: fine as lightly refinished. Barrel retaining about 90% exceptionally fine rebrown. What appears to be original case hardening remains strong on breech plug and lockplate. Frizzen and cock possible replacements are polished bright. Most of the original bright blue remains on trigger plate, trigger guard and buttplate. Stock retains most of a light oil refinish over some light marks and some fairly deep on forend associated with attempted barrel removal. Buttstock has two checks approximately 1 1/4" long on both sides of heel. Small approximately 1/2" spot of missing finish below check on right side. Bore is bright and shiny, lock is fine, lock screw replaced, old lock screw in case does not fit. Case exterior shows many marks, bumps and minor splitting. Interior cloth is good with some discoloration, label is good (foxed), partitions are good, accessories are generally good. Gun is described on pg. 94 and illustrated on plate 141 of "The Manton Gunmakers". (01-22001/MGM). ANTIQUE. $3,500-5,500.